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Yardley Solihull or Stechford WW2 military camps.

Jamie, that structure by Elmdon airport is known as a underground battle headquarters, and was a standard construction built by miletary airfields during WW2. See my post number 234 under Elmdon airport for further info on it.
 
ELMDON ATTACKED!

Well, whether this structure was an observation position or machine gun post or HQ and whether it was manned by the Home Guard or regular troops, it doesn't seem to have been all that effective!!

Some years ago Mr. Geoffrey Bennett from Bordesley Green wrote this memoir for me and gave me permission to publish it:

During the summer of 1943 I was still a member of "B" Company, 39th Battalion Warwickshire Home Guard, stationed at the Girls School, Finnemore Road, Bordesley Green. One Saturday night we were on manoeuvres around the Marston Green area. Having done what we had set out to do and being near the then "Elmdon Airport" at 5 a.m. on the Sunday morning the Sergeant of my platoon said "Let's see what the defences are like on the airfield." We then approached the place gingerly, about 30 of us, but soon found there was no need for caution of any kind. We went over the perimeter fence with ease and just walked towards the main building with not a soul in sight. All around us were petrol trucks, aircraft etc. - all the paraphernalia of an airbase in wartime. Not one person did we find on guard duty. Yes, you are right in thinking they were all in bed, they were fast asleep with not a care in the world, what a cushy number! We did realise that it could be the Fleet Air Arm there as one of the runways was in the shape of an Aircraft Carrier Deck. There was quite a panic when we woke them up, " Don`t tell anyone" was heard a few times. Our sergeant had to report it but we heard no more about the incident. I wonder if they did!​

Chris
 
For convenience, a transcription of Elmdon Boy's comments on this structure in the Elmdon thread to which he referred:

In answer to a few of the previous threads, the old battle headquarters which is still there is a typical design which was built at many military airfields during WW2 and due to the fact they were built mainly underground still exist at many old airfields around the country, although usually totally overgrown with brambles and filled with water. Potentially very dangerous places to explore. If you wish to see one that's fully restored and available to look round, go to Wellesbourne Mountford airfield near Stratford on Avon at the Wellesbourne Wartime Museum, open every Sunday and bank holiday Monday. The battle Headquarters were there to move airfield operations to if the airfield came under attack from the enemy, also as a means of defending the airfield from ground attack if the country was invaded. There would have been facilities to stay there for a few days.

All here: https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/elmdon-airport.23054/page-12

Chris
 
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Jamie allen said:
Just got back home with my son,from a day out visiting a home guard pill box by Birmingham airport, cannot believe how everything is still inside,down to furniture and storage containers.There were four rooms in the pill box due to bad lighting I couldn’t see exactly what was inside so I intend to visit again very soon, but there was one room stacked with approximately thirty of these lead like crates, any information on these crates would be very grateful,as I cannot find any information on the internet what’s so ever. Many thanks Jamie
Click to expand...
The crates you mention, remind me of old milk bottle crates ?
 
ChrisM said:
For convenience, a transcription of Elmdon Boy's comments on this structure in the Elmdon thread to which he referred:

In answer to a few of the previous threads, the old battle headquarters which is still there is a typical design which was built at many military airfields during WW2 and due to the fact they were built mainly underground still exist at many old airfields around the country, although usually totally overgrown with brambles and filled with water. Potentially very dangerous places to explore. If you wish to see one that's fully restored and available to look round, go to Wellesbourne Mountford airfield near Stratford on Avon at the Wellesbourne Wartime Museum, open every Sunday and bank holiday Monday. The battle Headquarters were there to move airfield operations to if the airfield came under attack from the enemy, also as a means of defending the airfield from ground attack if the country was invaded. There would have been facilities to stay there for a few days.

All here: https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/elmdon-airport.23054/page-12

Chris
Click to expand...
ChrisM thank you very much for your reply just told my son about that night you and your
ChrisM said:
For convenience, a transcription of Elmdon Boy's comments on this structure in the Elmdon thread to which he referred:

In answer to a few of the previous threads, the old battle headquarters which is still there is a typical design which was built at many military airfields during WW2 and due to the fact they were built mainly underground still exist at many old airfields around the country, although usually totally overgrown with brambles and filled with water. Potentially very dangerous places to explore. If you wish to see one that's fully restored and available to look round, go to Wellesbourne Mountford airfield near Stratford on Avon at the Wellesbourne Wartime Museum, open every Sunday and bank holiday Monday. The battle Headquarters were there to move airfield operations to if the airfield came under attack from the enemy, also as a means of defending the airfield from ground attack if the country was invaded. There would have been facilities to stay there for a few days.

All here: https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/elmdon-airport.23054/page-12

Chris
Click to expand...
chrisM thank you so much for that information me and son just had a little giggle about you with the 39th battalion finding them sleeping . And your definitely right about them pill boxes filling with water as the light I had with me yesterday was not to good I climbed in an i must say most stuff that’s inside is floating and there seems to be a lot of very old bicycle wheels as well stacked on top of each other. Many thanks Jamie
 
aggie2347 said:
Find attached a map post code CV7 7PD it's 30 years since I have been there. The tree concerned is fronting the main road to the right of the drive in the barracks were still there and being used as a scout camp when I last saw them. But what it's like now I know not. As far as can ascertain the camp was used for a convalescent hospital and by an infantry division getting ready for D Day. Tanks were parked in the surrounding lanes and up the centre of the Coventry Road past the airport. The G I's used to walk into Coventry and Birmingham in their distinctive blue uniforms. My father used to entertain them at the Clock at Bickenhill singing "Brother can you spare a dime" which went down a storm by all accounts. I remember the yanks attending dances at Starbank Road School we used to chase after them shouting "any gum chum".j
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Thank you for your information aggie2347 I’m going to take a drive over there tomorrow with my son and find out if I can have a look around. I will keep you informed on the outcome. I will take my metal detector just in case they give me the go ahead to use it. Many thanks Jamie
 
Jamie allen said:
Thank you for your information aggie2347 I’m going to take a drive over there tomorrow with my son and find out if I can have a look around. I will keep you informed on the outcome. I will take my metal detector just in case they give me the go ahead to use it. Many thanks Jamie
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As I have said before I use to ride my bike to a camp by Fillongley lots of Yanks there.
 
[QUOTE=" do you know if it’s still a park or as packington changed to something different I’m struggling to find it only packington hall I’m finding and it Jamie[/QUOTE]

Hi Jamie,

Packington Park is the private estate of Packington Hall.
Very nice as I recollect, - I used to visit the Home Farm
there in the 1980s, next to the Big House to pay my rent to the tenant
for a space on another farm where I kept my caravan at Balsall Common.
Beautifully kept grounds and a herd of deer.
Packington Hall is/was? the home of Lord Aylesford.

Kind regards
Dave
 
maypolebaz said:
I've just noticed, the guard in the first of these photos is wearing Service Dress and their collar badges look like the Grenade that the Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery wear. I wonder if we're looking at an Anti-Aircraft site ?
Click to expand...

Or even a searchlight battery? (Seem to remember some similar photographs, contemporary with those, which definitely DID show the latter). I believe that the R.E. were responsible for these sites.

Chris
 
oldbrit said:
If i remember right Packington hall is out the Cov rd
Click to expand...

Hi

Yes, main gate is a short way past the Stonebridge junction going out of Birmingham , on the left.
I think there may also be access from Packington lane a few hundred yards from its junction with the
A452 at the top of that nasty dogleg where you can see the estate private chapel. They also have
a private burial ground - I remember an old friend at the Met being buried there, as he had been
born on the estate.

Kind regards
Dave
 
Dave,

I had a first cousin, John George Sheppard, former landlord of the Stonebridge Hotel, who was killed in a road accident outside the Hotel whilst about to go on a fishing trip. He was buried in 1941 in "the churchyard of Great Packington". Is that the same place?

Maurice
 
sospiri said:
Dave,

I had a first cousin, John George Sheppard, former landlord of the Stonebridge Hotel, who was killed in a road accident outside the Hotel whilst about to go on a fishing trip. He was buried in 1941 in "the churchyard of Great Packington". Is that the same place?

Maurice
Click to expand...

Hi Maurice,

As far as I know it is.
Happy new Year,

Kind regards
Dave
 
The Yank camp that I rode my bike to was off the Cov Rd near Fillongley which is near Packington. My Dad also use to go hunting there he knew someone at the estate.
 
Jamie allen said:
Yes it is the one that crashed in earlswood, all the ladies chased the one. Survivor to get hold of his silk parachute to make knickers lol it was on the antique road show about a part of the parachute for sale, read up on it . Many thanks Jamie
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Hi, There are several newspaper stories on the web 'Earlswood silk knickers'.
Earlswood was very important to the Germans and the lakes were highlighted on their maps. They navigated by landmarks and the lakes on a moon lite night were a perfect landmark. Once there they just followed the railway lines to Birmingham. This particular plane had bombed Longbridge.
This explains why Shirley was bombed more heavily than some other areas of Solihull, it was dumping ground for unused bombs and the station was a good target on the way home but it was never hit although near by houses were.
 
MickyT said:
Hi, There are several newspaper stories on the web 'Earlswood silk knickers'.
Earlswood was very important to the Germans and the lakes were highlighted on their maps. They navigated by landmarks and the lakes on a moon lite night were a perfect landmark. Once there they just followed the railway lines to Birmingham. This particular plane had bombed Longbridge.
This explains why Shirley was bombed more heavily than some other areas of Solihull, it was dumping ground for unused bombs and the station was a good target on the way home but it was never hit although near by houses were.
Click to expand...
I mentioned, a few years ago to a friend who came to the UK from Malta in the early 1950's, that I had recently seen the film 'The Malta Story'. (It has been on Channel 81 a few times of late). He commented "yes I know the story, I was there". MickyT's post reminds me of the Shirley area and Earlswood during WW2, because I can say the same "I was there". ;)
 
Hi Mikejee
Before we lived in Lawrence St In Birmingham we lived on a army camp
when our father was in the army, do you please know of one that was near Harborne
I am pretty sure mum and dad shopped at Harborne
was about 1952 53 ??? I remember access was via a lane at one end of the camp
at the end of the lane was a farm
Barry
 
shorttermer said:
Hi Mikejee
Before we lived in Lawrence St In Birmingham we lived on a army camp
when our father was in the army, do you please know of one that was near Harborne
I am pretty sure mum and dad shopped at Harborne
was about 1952 53 ??? I remember access was via a lane at one end of the camp
at the end of the lane was a farm
Barry
Click to expand...
hi barry what were your parents names as we maybe able to find them on the electoral registers which will give us the address of where they lived

lyn
 
Hi Barry. I have no knowledge of army camps, but Lyns suggestion is a good one, and names could well help
 
thanks barry will see what i can find out and no doubt others will...i take it your parents married in birmingham and born in birmingham

lyn
 
shorttermer said:
Hi Astoness
My parents names were Richard Hammond and Eileen Gay
Barry
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hi barry bit confused as i have a found RICHARD H GAY AND EILEEN W GAY on the 1960 electoral roll living at 26 lawrence st...unless i have missed something surely they should be hammond

lyn
 
Lyn
yes that is right we lived there after we moved from the army camp
Richard H Gay married to Eileen W Gay
but we emigrated to Australia in June 1959
sorry for any confusion
 
shorttermer said:
Lyn
yes that is right we lived there after we moved from the army camp
Richard H Gay married to Eileen W Gay
but we emigrated to Australia in June 1959
sorry for any confusion
Click to expand...
ahh that explains it better barry its just that you said earlier your dad was richard hammond so i was looking for that surname...will see what else i can find out

lyn
 
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